Respond to this Story

SPRING RESTAURANT GUIDE
2003

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

R

R&O PIZZA PLACE
216 Old Hammond Hwy., Metairie 831-1248
For an establishment as tried-and-true as this one, such new additions as Barq's in a bottle, onion rings and an ATM machine are big news indeed. It's a great time of year to enjoy fresh seafood in this beloved Bucktown mainstay, and the seafood stew is always recommended: shrimp, crawfish and crab claws simmer in a red sauce over fresh angel hair or wheat pasta. Lunch and dinner Wednesday through Monday. Credit cards. $

RAG'S PO-BOYS AND SEAFOOD
4960 Hwy. 22, Mandeville (985) 792-1744
103 W. 30th Ave., Covington (985) 892-7895
Try Rag's for tasty roast beef and shrimp po-boys -- or order a rotating list of lunch and dinner specials. The Mandeville location only offers daily specials: red beans and rice on Monday, pork chops on Tuesday, breaded veal on Wednesday, country-fried steak on Thursday, or seafood on Friday. The Covington Rag's has a separate buffet with much of the same fare. Lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards and checks. $

RASCAL'S DELI
1400 Poydras St. 522-1787
If you don't have time to cook a nutritious breakfast, stop into Rascal's on your way to work for eggs, grits sausage, and of course coffee. Daily lunch specials feature offerings of pork chops, red beans and rice with sausage and seafood. The seafood platter, perfect during Lent, is available everyday at Rascal's. It features fish, shrimp and oysters along with French fries and a salad, for $6.95. Delivery available for large orders. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch Monday through Saturday. Credit cards. $

RED BIKE BAKERY & CAFE
746 Tchoupitoulas St. 529-2453
This Warehouse District mainstay specializes in light, healthy cuisine. Many lunch seekers decide on the curry turkey salad sandwich with chunks of slow-roasted turkey, spiced apples and honey. Their gourmet pizzas are made with homemade dough. Stop by on Thursday for Brazilian Night, featuring free black beans and rice and live music from Riccardo Crespo. Delivery available. Reservations accepted. Breakfast Saturday, lunch Monday through Friday, dinner Thursday through Saturday. Credit cards. $

THE RED EYE GRILL
852 S. Peters St. 593-9393
www.redeyegrill.net
Late-night burgers hit the spot with most folks who swing by the Red Eye for some live music and dancing. If you have time to sit down, try the grilled tuna steak; if not, there's plenty of bar snacks to fuel your dancing. On weekends, the tables are moved out and a DJ moves in. No reservations. Lunch Monday through Saturday, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $

RED FISH GRILL
115 Bourbon St. 598-1200
www.redfishgrill.com
Come in to the former D.H. Holmes department store to give your tastebuds a treat with this restaurant's hickory-grilled redfish served with potatoes and crabmeat in a lemon-butter sauce. Oysters can be had barbecue style, fried, baked or raw, and the Bourbon Street sampler gives you a plate of coconut shrimp, alligator sausage, crabmeat au gratin and barbecue oysters. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

RED MAPLE
1036 Lafayette St., Gretna 367-0935
Enjoy the brand-new lounge area before you saunter over to the freshly renovated dining room to sample Executive Chef Randy Barlow's menu delights. These include crabmeat au gratin: lump crabmeat in a mushroom cream topped with smoked Gouda; or the eggplant Maple appetizer, an eggplant topped with sauteed shrimp in a black pepper New Orleans barbecue sauce. Reservations recommended. Lunch Monday through Friday, dinner Wednesday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$

RED STAR CHINESE
8330 Earhart Blvd. 861-1933
Combination plates are the option many take at the bustling Red Star, where you can add shrimp fried rice and an egg roll to entree choices such as General Tsao's chicken. An ideal snack or appetizer is the crab Rangoon. Delivery available. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

RED STEER GRILL
124 Lake Marina Ave. 283-4582
3100 Severn Ave., Metairie 888-8575
The beef brisket is just one of the melt-in-your-mouth specialties at this casual American grill. The USDA choice brisket is slow-cooked for eight hours before being offered up as an entree or a sandwich. The Big Red burger with fries is the signature dish, but the menu also has a selection of steaks. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

REGINELLI'S PIZZERIA
741 State St. 899-1414
874 Harrison Ave. 488-0133
5608 Citrus Blvd., Jefferson 818-0111
www.reginellis.com
The specialty pizzas here include the cheerful Sun Pie with pesto, mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil, red onions, roasted red peppers and goat cheese. If you're not in a pizza mood, there's always tasty Italian sandwiches in a pita or on focaccia bread. No reservations. Free delivery available. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

REMOULADE
309 Bourbon St. 523-0377
www.remoulade.com
Considered by many to be "the casual side of Creole cooking," Remoulade boasts traditional New Orleans' cuisine at reasonable prices. Local specialties include jambalaya, Jazz Fest meat pies, crawfish bisque, barbecue shrimp and red beans and rice. More casual items such as hamburgers and pizza can also be found on the menu. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $$

RENDON INN
4501 Eve St. 822-9858
The namesake Rendon po-boy keeps regulars happy with grilled roast beef, ham and Swiss cheese, dressed with gravy. And though football season may be over, the Haslett sandwich remains in play: it's a double-decker of roast beef, pastrami and Swiss on rye. Fried seafood platters round out the menu recommendations. Delivery available. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, late-night Friday and Saturday. Credit cards. $

RENE BISTROT
817 Common St. (Renaissance Pere Marquette Hotel) 412-2580
www.renebistrot.com
Success came quickly for Chef Rene Bajeux's newest venture, and no wonder -- the cheerful ambience and earthy flavors have made this restaurant a CBD hot spot for lunch and happy hour. Specialties include the bouillabaisse seafood stew, made with saffron, rouille and croutons, and the escargos facon Rene, served with herb garlic butter, Pernod and pesto croutons. Reservations recommended. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

RESTAURANT AUGUST
301 Tchoupitoulas St. 299-9777
The constantly changing menu of Chef John Besh at Restaurant August this spring invites you to sample lunch items such as jumbo shrimp and scallops served with a semolina gnocchiette, which follows the restaurant's habit of making its own pasta. Or for dinner, opt for the Moroccan-spiced duck with a sweet-corn polenta, duck foie gras and fried compote. Reservations required. Lunch Monday through Friday, dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$$

RESTAURANT CUVEE
322 Magazine St. 587-9001
Restaurant Cuvee's focus on top-notch ingredients and creative cuisine is immediately apparent in such dishes as the appetizer offering of crispy merliton Napoleon, served with spicy shrimp remoulade and cayenne butter. There's also a sugar-cane smoked duck breast with a crispy confit leg with Cashel blue cheese and walnut risotto, also served with a seared Hudson Valley foie gras and pear glace. The extensive wine list is another attraction. Reservations recommended. Lunch Monday through Friday, dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$$

RESTAURANT DES FAMILLES
7163 Barataria Blvd., Crown Point 689-7834
A trip to Crown Point wouldn't be complete without going to Restaurant des Familles to check out its famous view of the area's alligator population. Take in the bayou vista over an order of the softshell crab Foster, lightly battered and fried, then topped with green onions, artichoke bottoms and mushrooms. Reservations recommended. Lunch Tuesday through Saturday, dinner Tuesday through Sunday, brunch Sunday. Credit cards. $$

RESTAURANT INDIGO
2285 Bayou Road 947-0123
www.indigonola.com
You couldn't find a prettier place to eat than Restaurant Indigo, with its view of the lush gardens at the adjourning House on Bayou Road. Award-winning Chef Kevin Vizard helps to beguile your senses with complex appetizers such as the duck crepe, served with pistachios in a sun-dried cherry sauce, and the poached mussels and chorizo. Entrees include veal with crabmeat and potato gnocchi, and lobster ravioli. Reservations recommended. Dinner Tuesday through Sunday, brunch Sunday. Credit cards. $$$

RESTAURANT MANDICH
3200 St. Claude Ave. 947-9553
Mandich's status as a Ninth Ward institution is no mystery to the lucky regulars who have tried its turtle soup with sherry -- this family recipe is the stuff of legends. The trout Mandich features the fish broiled to form a crisp crust and served with a light lemon sauce. Reservations recommended. Lunch Tuesday through Friday, dinner Friday and Saturday. Credit cards. $$

THE RIB ROOM
621 St. Louis St. (Omni Royal Orleans Hotel) 529-7046
www.omniroyalorleans.com
Rated "award-winning" in this year's Zagat Survey of the city's restaurants, The Rib Room imbues diners with elegance in its decor and service and fine dining in its culinary offerings. A consistent favorite of the French Quarter restaurant is the signature slow-roasted prime rib that's served with a spicy horseradish sauce, a baked potato and salad with housemade croutons and blue cheese dressing. Reservations recommended. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, brunch Sunday. Credit cards. $$$

RICCA'S SANDWICH SHOP
1440 Canal St. (Tidewater Building) 524-2143
Ricca's has been family owned and operated for 23 years in the CBD. Regulars love the no-frills breakfast menu, wide variety of po-boys and generous daily specials. The Iris po-boy is filled with roast beef, turkey and Swiss cheese. The self-service salad bar is a real steal at $2.99. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday. Cash only. $

RICCOBONO'S PANOLA STREET CAFE
7801 Panola St. 314-1810
This is a great place to relax with a newspaper and a cup of strong coffee over one of the many egg breakfasts here. One signature dish is the eggs Pontchartrain, a classic version of eggs Benedict with crawfish. There's also buckwheat waffles and pancakes and the popular sauteed crawfish-mushroom-green onion omelette. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch daily. Credit cards. $

RICCOBONO'S PEPPERMILL RESTAURANT
3524 Severn Ave., Metairie 455-2266
The sister restaurant to the Uptown Panola Street Cafe exhibits the same easy-going gourmet flair. The sauteed veal Josephine is topped in crabmeat, shrimp and bearnaise sauce and served with Brabant potatoes, while the oysters Riccobono are baked in a casserole with mushrooms, garlic and breadcrumbs and served with spaghetti bordelaise. Reservations recommended. Breakfast and lunch daily, dinner Tuesday through Sunday, brunch Sunday. Credit cards. $$

RIOMAR
800 S. Peters St. 525-FISH (3474)
www.riomarseafood.com
Chef Adolfo Garcia takes you on a tour of South America with his inventive menu. The Peruvian-style fish is made with a tomato-cilantro sauce and jalapenos, the Ecuadorian-style shrimp is tossed with citrus and tomatoes, the Panamanian-style fish is made with onions and habanero chiles, and for a taste of the Old World, try the Spanish-style octopus with olive oil, paprika and potatoes. Reservations recommended. Lunch Monday through Friday, dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$

RISTORANTE CARMELO
541 Decatur St. 586-1414
www.ristorantecarmelo.com
Carmelo boasts its own take on Italian dining in the French Quarter. The bruschetta can be prepared three different ways, from the classic tomato and basil to the more adventurous portobello mushroom and olive oil. The list of house specialties includes Vitello alla Sorrentina, sauteed white veal, eggplant, and prosciutto with mozzarella cheese and light tomato sauce. The wine list is 100 percent Italian. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

RISTORANTE DA PIERO
116 W. Pine St., Ponchatoula (985) 370-6221
A classic Italian restaurant in Ponchatoula -- that was Piero's goal, and he certainly achieved it. The Tagliata di filetto alla Pasadora consists of sliced beef tenderloin on a bed of arugula with tomatoes, green onions and basil. The strozzapreti alla cervese is hand-rolled pasta tossed with shrimp, eggplant, tomato sauce and herbs. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. Credit cards and checks. $$

RISTORANTE FILIPPO
1917 Ridgelake Drive, Metairie 835-4008
This is a classic, traditional Italian restaurant, and Chef-owner Filippo prides himself on making it that way. The menu is a wonderful mix of seafood, pasta, scampi and meat. Filippo suggests chicken Spedini, in which he takes a baked chicken breast coupled with prosciutto, tops it with breadcrumbs, pine nuts and romano cheese and serves it with sun-dried tomatos and calamata olives over pasta with garlic oil. Couple your Italian feast with a glass of Chianti from Filippo's extensive Italian and Californian wine list. Reservations accepted. Lunch Monday through Friday, dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Credit Cards. $$

RIVER 127'
100 Rue Iberville (Wyndham New Orleans at Canal Place) 553-5082
www.wyndham.com
River 127' offers both beautiful views of the Mississippi River and mouthwatering dishes created by Executive Chef Raymond Toups, who is both "locally born and classically trained." Try the shrimp Grand Isle, or the Barataria Bay crabcakes, which are made with jumbo lump crabmeat and fresh herbs, pan-fried in butter and served with a crab sauce. Reservations recommended. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, brunch Sunday. Credit cards. $$$

RIVERHOUSE CAFE
5961 Magazine St. 894-0046
Customers flock to the Riverhouse Cafe for items such as burgers, po-boys, pasta and the shrimp and crab claw gumbo. Happy hour drink specials include a discount on beer and liquor. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily, late-night Monday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$
RIVERS EDGE
801 Decatur St. 525-4478
Owner Trisha Smith, also of Pere Antoine, has created a French Quarter haven for the tired and hungry with Rivers Edge. Pop in for breakfast dishes including the eggs Benedict, Denver omelette and pain perdu (lost bread). Blackened catfish comes with rice, Creole sauce and sauteed vegetables. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night daily. Credit cards. $$

RIVERSHACK TAVERN
3449 River Road, Jefferson 837-7118
www.rivershacktavern.net
Every week, Rivershack runs different lunch specials with fish fresh from the market. One recent dish featured a crab-stuffed flounder over dirty rice with beurre blanc. Also worth checking out: a fried green tomato salad with crabmeat or the crab and wonton salad with sesame-peanut dressing and sweet peppers. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

ROADHOUSE GRILL
820 W. Esplanade Ave., Kenner 465-1349
5131 Lapalco Blvd., Marrero 341-3636
The Roadhouse is the place to go when you want to sink your teeth into a hunk of beef -- the 16-ounce porterhouse has never failed to satisfy a craving. Also try the Roadie, a no-nonsense steak marinated in Jim Beam and served with sizzling onions and a side salad. For an appetizer, try the wraps stuffed with cheeses and peppers. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

ROCK-N-SAKE BAR & SUSHI
823 Fulton St. 581-7253
www.rocknsake.com
The quality of the Japanese fare is evident in the Hawaii 5-0 roll, stuffed with crunchy coconut-tempura shrimp and cream cheese and rolled in fresh mango and avocado. Or try the rebel rice roll -- barbecue eel and avocado, wrapped in rice paper drizzled with eel sauce. No reservations. Lunch Monday through Friday, dinner daily, late-night Saturday and Sunday. Credit cards. $$

ROCKY'S OLD NEW ORLEANS BAR & PIZZA JOINT
2701 Airline Drive, Metairie 833-1288
3222 Magazine St. 891-5152
Pizza lovers will die at the chance to try Rocky's traditional white and whole wheat crusts and wide array of scrumptious toppings. On top of that, four new focaccia sandwiches (including a meatball and a vegetarian) and three new pastas (try spaghetti and meatballs) are gaining space on the already extensive menu of pizzas, salads and pastas. Delivery available. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

ROMANO'S MACARONI GRILL
3410 Hwy. 190, Mandeville (985) 727-1998
www.macaronigrill.com
The menu at Romano's proffers an extensive selection of Italian classics from their family to yours. The Sole Parmigiano is pan-fried with a Parmesan crust, lemon butter, capers, and sun-dried tomato orzo pasta. The Penne Rustica is a family recipe in which shrimp, grilled chicken and smoked prosciutto are covered in a creamy cheese sauce, then baked in the wood-burning oven. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

ROYAL BLEND COFFEE & TEA HOUSE
204 Metairie Road, Metairie 835-7779
222 Carondelet St. 529-2005
621 Royal St. 523-2716
www.royalblendcoffee.com
Although Royal Blend specializes in an array of coffees and teas, each location also offers diverse lunches and healthy, on-the-go snacks. The daily special wraps are popular, with top options including the toasted-almond chicken and portobello mushroom and chicken varieties. Sandwiches, salads, occasional hot daily specials and pastries also are featured. Delivery available until 3 p.m. from the Carondelet Street location only. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, late-night Friday and Saturday, brunch Sunday at the Metairie location only. $

ROYAL CAFE
700 Royal St. 528-9086
www.royalcafe.com
Dining on a French Quarter balcony is always a treat, but particularly so at the Royal Cafe. Chef Michelle Matlock recommends her trout LaBranche: speckled trout is pan-seared and topped with crawfish tails, red peppers, garlic and parsley swimming in a light cream sauce and sprinkled with roasted pecans. The char-fired oysters on the half shell are served with a sweet chili butter and fresh Parmesan cheese. On a brisk day try the signature oyster artichoke soup. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

RUE DE LA COURSE
219 N. Peters St. 523-0206
401 Carondelet St. 586-0401
1140 S. Carrollton Ave. 861-4343
1500 Magazine St. 529-1455
3128 Magazine St. 899-0242
6501 Willow St. (Tulane University) 862-8063
Summer is coming, and Rue has just the thing to cool you, a variety of frozen and iced drinks. Try the frozen granita, a chai shake with vanilla ice cream or a cool espresso and vanilla ice cream concoction. Of course, there are specialty coffees, including those topped with chocolate and whipped cream, and teas, and a variety of fresh-made sandwiches is available at most locations. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night daily (Carondelet Street location open until 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 2 p.m. Saturdays and closed Sundays). Cash only. $

RUSSELL'S MARINA GRILL
8555 Pontchartrain Blvd. 282-9999, or 9980
You may want to order the eight egg white omelette just to see how big it is; but whether you choose the lean and mean, with chicken, spinach, onions and housemade salsa, or the all-pro, with roasted turkey, Swiss cheese, and tomato, you might never go back to yokes. There are daily specials and a wide selection of homemade soups and salads. For dinner, try the shrimp Sophia: whole-wheat pasta with shrimp sauteed in garlic, butter, lemon and white wine. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $

RUSSELL'S SHORT STOP PO-BOYS
119 Transcontinental Drive, Metairie 885-4572
Riddle: What's both well dressed and nice 'n' sloppy? Answer: Russell's roast beef po-boys. Appetizing alternatives include the homemade gumbo and jambalaya. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards. $ RUTH'S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE
711 N. Broad St. 486-0810
3633 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 888-3600
www.ruthschris.com
Known internationally for its steaks that arrive at your table sizzling in butter, Ruth's Chris also caters to non-beef tastes with its oysters Rockefeller and its seasonal crawfish pie, which offers Louisiana crawfish tails in a rich barbecue butter sauce seasoned with red and green bell peppers and onion and served in an open-face crepe shell. Reservations recommended. Lunch Monday through Friday and Sunday, dinner daily. Credit cards. $$$

Other Stories This Week in Features:

Cover Story
Letters of Recommendation

Feature Story
FQF XX
Roots of "Jazz"

Blake Pontchartrain
New Orleans Know-It-All

Shoptalk
New Life on the Lakefront

Recently in Cover Story:

Critical Care 04 01 03

Laments and Love Songs 03 25 03

Long Remembered 03 25 03

Cover Story Archives